Aurora Magazine 2009

The SMWC Life By Danya Long

Studying As we are all gathered around the table at the end of the hall, Laura is working on her legal research homework. “This is so stupid!” At the passing of every person, she begs them to do her homework, knowing that no one would dare attempt it unless they want to be admitted to a mental institution. Amy reads her human sexuality textbook and treats us to the random and sometimes disturbing facts she learns. “Did you guys know that a kleptomaniac gets sexual pleasure from stealing things?” I’m sitting at my computer, staring at a blank Word document attempting to rack my brain and crank out yet another essay. “Why is this so hard right now?” On this particular night of our studying ritual, Becca and Adrienne come struggling down the hallway while carrying a loveseat from 3 Center. I have to ask. “What the hell are you guys doing?” “It’s cool. We just wanna chill. It’ll be down at the end of 2 North if you guys wanna use it.” After the puzzled looks are exchanged, we resume our studying. “This penis has gonorrhea and it looks like whiteheads…” Eating The dining hall has many nicknames. O’Shag, O’Shagnasty, O’Shitessy, and much more. The names have been adopted by students from every class. Entering the dining hall, the acrid aroma of our dinner hits our nostrils. We wander up to the line only to encounter burnt pizza, overcooked pasta, and a big pile of nasty in the form of turkey pot pie. After attempting to force down a few bites of the pasta and pot pie, I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Are we sure this is real food? It looks like they nuked a bunch of Alpo,” I say. Amy, my wonderful chef, came through once again. “Do you want me to make you a grilled cheese so you don’t have to eat that…food?” I eagerly accept the offer, and wait for 15 minutes for the gourmet meal I have gotten so used to consuming. When it took longer than usual for her to return, I ask Laura what could be taking so long. I glance up toward the electric griddle at the front of the dining hall. My eyes meet a line of 10 people, waiting for their gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to finish crisping to that delicious golden brown. The independence of college life has set in; even cooking is left up to us… Learning I’m sitting in my computer class for what seems like the hundredth time this semester. The persistent humming of the 18 computers all working at once is enough to put me to sleep this early in the morning. The professor has this special computer monitor that shows what each computer has pulled up on the screen. It put a damper on my boredom control for a few classes, until I finally got the hang of it. I came in early so I could pull up MySpace and Facebook. Stalking has always been a favorite pastime of mine. I was about three slides ahead on this PowerPoint presentation we were recreating, so I pulled up my Facebook to see if there was anything interesting going on.